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It won’t be long at all before Microsoft pushes Windows Phone 8 into the wild, and that means we’re probably about to see some serious discounts on existing Windows Phone handsets.

In fact, that price-slashing process has already begun, as Nokia recently announced that their AT&T-bound Lumia 900 now sports a much lighter price tag — it can be had for the terribly-reasonable price of $49.99. The question is, should you buy one?

It’s a tough call considering what Microsoft plans to launch in a few short months, but the Lumia 900 is still a solid (and not very old) piece of kit — wonderful design, LTE support, and a spacious screen all make for a respectable package, early data issues notwithstanding. That new price point plus the addition of a new color (if you’re into that sort of thing) may make for a compelling buy, though it means that you the user will have to do without Windows Phone 8’s warm embrace for nearly two years.

Thankfully, it’s not a total loss. Nokia reaffirmed at Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 unveiling that the company would continue to provide support and updates to their existing line of Lumia handsets, in addition to loading them up with some nifty exclusive features to help ease potential user disappointment. The forthcoming Windows Phone 7.8 update should also breathe some new (and more customizable) life into that Lumia’s homescreen, though neither Microsoft, AT&T or Nokia have commented on when that update is expected to go live.